When i install my new comp

ojrules · 5 Jul 2008 at 16:16

I'm switching motherboards, and want to switch OS. from xp 32 to vista 64
..

I have 2 hard drives in pata (yes i know)... the OS is installed on the first hard drive....

What i was going to do is wipe everything on the D drive (non OS drive)... and then when it came to booting up the new pc only install the OS hard drive (c) ... and then boot from the vista install disk and format the hard drive... does this make sense?.. and will i have to set the boot priority to the dvd drive in order to ensure it boots from the vista disk, rather than it tryign to boot from xp...?..

malcolm · 5 Jul 2008 at 16:32

Firstly set the boot order to:
1 CDRom
2 Hard disc.

It can stay like that for ever, but slightly quicker if it doesn't check the CD first.

When you are loading the new OS just connect the one disc drive, make sure it is jumpered correctly, either as a master or cable select. Connect it to the end of the IDE cable.

Once Vista is installed all the second drive on the slave connector, again make sure it is jumpered correctly. If it tries to boot XP you will soon see the XP boot screen, but the bios should default to boot from the master drive. Once in Vista you can format the old XP disc.

ojrules · 5 Jul 2008 at 16:34

hmm ok.. so i should install vista on the blank hard drive... and then in when its installed how will i format the second (xp) hard disk?

malcolm · 5 Jul 2008 at 16:40

Not familiar with Vista, but in XP you right click My Computer, select Manage, then storage, then disk management and select the drive. Right click any disc or partition and format is one of the options. I assume Vista is similar.

You can also do it from My Computer but you may need to tell the OS the drive is present by running Disk management.

ojrules · 5 Jul 2008 at 16:45

mkay yeh i see that thanks...

ojrules · 5 Jul 2008 at 16:57

and ure relatively sure that there wont be any conflict between the 2 OS hard drives, as long as the vista one is set as master?

malcolm · 5 Jul 2008 at 17:20

There no such thing as 100% guarantee, but the worst thing that can happen is that the 'puter will try to boot XP, you'll see the XP logo and you can press the reset button! It won't upset your new Vista load if this happens.

ojrules · 5 Jul 2008 at 19:55

ok, and because i'm going to use a p5q baord i spose i can at least boot into basic linux...

but wouldnt it make more sense to install and format the xp drive with the vista disk, and then have an exisiting relitavely clean d drive with no OS on?....

ojrules · 5 Jul 2008 at 23:03

sorry i just wonder would it not be simpler if i just leave the xp drive connected and boot from the vista dvd and then thus format the hard drive and install vosta on it?

PhoenixUK · 6 Jul 2008 at 06:31

Ye I don't see what's the problem here anyway ...
Insert CD --->>> boot --->>> format drive ---> install system.

Which part do you have problem with ?

ojrules · 6 Jul 2008 at 10:52

i was just saying wouldnt it be simpler if i formatted and installed vista onto the xp drive, rather than the relitavely blank one, to prevent conflict issues?...

my suggestion:
C drive: has xp.. ....... D drive: has data
C drive: format and install vista .... D drive: leave clean/format if neccesary...

rather than
C drive: has xp.. D drive: has data
C drive: format ...... D drive: install OS

as the latter ends up with 2 OS's and surely more potential risk of errors etc?/...